The thumb wheel in MTH remotes requires a press in order to make a selection from the the LCD (kind of like the wheel on a computer mouse). The wheel is suspended by a plastic cradle that eventually fails because its plastic and semi brittle. When this part fails the remote doesn't work. If this part was metal or easily replaced, then our MTH remotes would last longer. Both of my remotes have broken thumb wheel cradles. The WiFi app and WIU cost about the same as another DCS remote. Plus I can use any iPhone, iPad i can install app on. I can easily share the app, WIU password and control with any visitor to my layout.
Pros:
- My iPhone rarely runs out of battery power since I keep it charged/keep a charger near layout
- I don't need a ISP or Internet connection since I simply use the WIU's provided WiFi. (My WIU turns on when I turn on power to Z4000 via wall switch)
- I'm use to using apps on my phone with my TV, Cable , AV systems. Apps have replaced almost every remote in my home.
- The connection to engines is fairly fast and reliable when the display is on.
- I like that the app can be easily configured so I can play the whistle of my PS3 engines.
Cons:
- Occasionally my phone will switch from the MTH WiFi to my house wifi thus disabling control. I've resolved this by dedicating an old iPad than only has the MTH WiFi channel configured.
- MTH Wi-Fi DCS app needs an option or mode to keep screen lit and to disable lock screen on iPhones when in use. My Waze and Amazon Music apps stay lit (and available) as long as my phone is plugged in/on charger. I have a iPhone XR that has face recognition to unlock screen. While that is a convenient feature it still take a second to unlock phone and re-acquire control. True keeping the screen on would wear down battery but I have a charging cradle for phone and iPad.
- The user interface needs rework. The speedometer takes up too much space on the home screen. Speed control could be performed by a vertical slider (like track voltage slider in Track mode). Or better yet via the physical volume up or down keys on the side of the phone. Because the speedo is so big (much of which is useless since no sane operator routinely runs engines over 60 smph), decouplers, rev up/down, PFA, Brake, smoke, etc are all on a secondary screen.
- Allow users to configure a phone like matrix (3x4) of squares (like the Lionel Legacy remote) so they can configure which functional icon they want and where. Kind of like the idea behind the soft buttons on the MTH remote. Similar to the way we can arrange apps on the screen of our phone/tablet
- On iPhone X, XR, phones with the 'tab' at the top of the screen, it has become difficult to select/switch the currently controlled engine because the 'tab' takes the top half of the selection area.
- Horizontal sliders to adjust settings like volume and max speed are nearly impossible to adjust since swiping side to side is how you switch from Control, to Function, to Settings screen. Reduce the size of the speedo to fit all of operation functions onto one screen then make swiping up/down for swapping screens. Side to side for setting sliders would be easier then.
- Allow the iPad interface to rotate to landscape and allow user to display and control multiple engines side by side.
- A subtle touch required to swap the order or activate/deactivate list of engines.
Bottom line is I prefer the MTH WiFi app mainly because I've gotten use to it and it works reliably. As you can see by my list of cons the app could be significantly improved. I agree that I miss being able to control key functions (speed) by touch. This could be addressed by allowing app users to configure how volume buttons are used on phone/tablet.
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